Dr Rakhshanda Jalil

1. Ph. D. on ‘The Progressive Writers’ Movement as Reflected in Urdu Literature’ (2012)
   Academy of Third World Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
2. PM. A. (English)
   Miranda House, Delhi University (1984-86)
   Secured First position in Miranda House and Third in Delhi University with First Division.
3. PB. A. (Hons) English
   Miranda House, Delhi University (1981-84)
4. PA.I.S.S.C.E. (Science Stream)
   Delhi Public School, Mathura Road, New Delhi (1970-81)

1. Lecturer in the Dept. of English, Khalsa College, Delhi University (1986).
2. Lecturer in the Dept of English, Aligarh Muslim University (1986-87).
3. Editorial Assistant at Tata McGraw-Hill Book Publishing Company
   (1987-89).
4. Joined as Sub-Editor in the Publications Division of the India International Centre (1989-90).
5. Assistant Editor in the Publications Division of the India International Centre (1990 – March 1995). Worked on a bimonthly newsletter, the IIC Diary, and a quarterly magazine, the IIC Quarterly.
6. Freelance writing for a Belgian newsweekly and translations for the Institute of Indology, Katholieke University, Leuven, Belgium (March 1995 – July 1995).
7. Project Editor (Localisation) at Dorling Kindersley Book Publishing Company (1999-2000).
8. Joined Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi in May 2005 as Media and Cultural Coordinator with additional charge as Coordinator, Outreach Programme and Coordinator, Publications. In 2007, this designation was changed to Director, Media & Culture. Additional charge of Honorary Director, Outreach Programme, a public outreach programme located in the University. This involved handling the media, plotting the trajectory of the University in the public perception, doing damage control when necessary, and drawing favourable public attention to the activities of the University. (Till December 2010).
9. As Honorary Director of the Outreach Programme, organised a broad range of activities for greater engagement with the community such as talks, workshops, seminars, poetry recitals, theatrical readings, keeping in mind a diverse audience both within the University and outside.
10. Local Secretary of the XXXII Indian Social Science Congress at the Jamia Millia Islamia, 18-22 December 2008.
11. Co-Editor of a quarterly journal called Third Frame: Literature, Culture and Society, published and distributed by Cambridge University Press from 2007-2009. During this time, edited eight issues of the journal.
12. On Extraordinary Leave from the Jamia Millia Islamia (from January 2010-December 2010) to complete Ph D.
13. Senior Associate Fellow at the Council of Social Development, New Delhi and Associate Editor of Social Change, the journal brought out by CSD (Jan 2011-Jan 2012).
14. Consultant for a series of films on ‘The Greats of Urdu Literature’, for Doordarshan (2013).
15. Consultant for an NGO called Apne Aap that deals with trafficking of women and girl children (April 2013-August 2014).

1. Translated and introduced 10 Hindi short stories by Premchand, collection entitled The Temple and the Mosque, published by Harper Collins Publishers, 1992. Enlarged and revised edition in 2011.
2. Translation of monograph on noted Urdu satirist, Rasheed Ahmad Siddiqui, published by Sahitya Akademi, 1995.
3. Translation of Urdu short story in Image and Representation, edited by Mushirul Hasan and M. Asaduddin, Oxford University Press, 2000.
4. Edited a collection of 12 short stories entitled Urdu Stories, Srishti Publishers, 2002.
5. ‘When Comes Such Another? In Memoriam: Al-e Ahmad Suroor (1911-2002), Annual of Urdu Studies, Wisconsin-Madison, Vol. 18, 2003.
6. Translated and introduced the satirical writings of Hindi writer Asghar Wajahat entitled Lies: Half Told, Srishti Publishers, 2002.
7. Translated and introduced a set of 32 cameos by Urdu writer Saadat Hasan Manto entitled Black Borders, Rupa & Co., 2003.
8. Translated and introduced Urdu nazms by Shahryar entitled Through the Closed Doorway, Rupa & Co, 2004.
9. Translated and introduced the Urdu short stories of Pakistani writer Intizar Husain entitled Circle &Other Stories, Rupa & Co., 2004.
10. Translation of Urdu ghazals by Indira Varma entitled Hum-Umr Khayal, UBSD, 2004.
11. Translation of two Urdu short stories published in New Urdu Fictions, Katha, 2004.
12. Co-authored Partners in Freedom, an illustrated history of Jamia Millia Islamia with Prof. Mushirul Hasan, Niyogi Books, 2006.
13. Regular book reviews/human interest features/travelogues/translations published in The Hindu, Hindustan Times, Indian Express, The Little Magazine, Times of India, The Week, India International Centre Quarterly, Indian Literature, The Book review, Discover India, Nation and the World, First City, India Perspectives, The Bulletin (Belgium), The International Indian (Dubai), The Friday Times (Lahore), Himal (Kathmandu) and The Annual of Urdu Studies (Wisconsin-Madison).
14. Translated and introduced a collection of short stories by Premchand for young readers called The Winter’s Night & Other Stories, Puffin, 2007.
15. Edited a collection of 13 stories by Pakistani women writers called Neither Night Nor Day, Harper Collins, 2007.
16. Written a book on the lesser-known built heritage of Delhi called Invisible City: The Hidden Monuments of Delhi, Niyogi Books, 2008. Revised Third edition published in January 2011.
17. Translated and introduced a collection of short stories and sketches by Saadat Hasan Manto called Naked Voices & Other Stories, Roli, 2008.
18. Edited The Idea of a University: Jamia Millia Islamia, a collection of essays on the Jamia Millia Islamia, Aakar Books, 2009.
19. Co-authored Journey to a Holy Land: A Pilgrim’s Diary, with Mushirul Hasan, Oxford University Press, 2009.
20. Translated and introduced a collection of Hindi short stories by Phanishwarnath Renu called Panchlight & Other Stories, Orient Blackswan, 2010.
21. Edited and introduced a volume of essays entitled Qurratulain Hyder and the River of Fire: the Meaning, Scope and Significance of her Legacy, Aakar Books, 2010. Also published, under the same title, by Oxford University Press, Karachi, 2011.
22. Guest Editor of a special theme issue of The Book Review, entitled ‘Progressive Literature in Review’, New Delhi, April 2011.
23. ‘Qurratulain Hyder and the Idea of a Nation: A Close Reading of River of Fire’, Summerhill, Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla, October 2011.
24. Debut collection of short stories, entitled Release & Other Stories (Harper Collins, 2011).
25. Guest Editor of special theme issue of The Indian Archive entitled ‘Delhi 100’, a journal of The National Archives of India devoted to the past 100 years of New Delhi, 2012.
26. Guest Editor of special theme issue of Social Scientist on Manto, Nov-Dec. 2012.
27. New Wrings in Urdu: From India and Pakistan, an edited volume of 30 short stories (Westland, 2013).
28. Liking Progress, Loving Modernity: A History of the Progressive Writers’ Movement in Urdu (Oxford University Press, 2014).
29. A Rebel and her Cause: The Life and Work of Dr Rashid Jahan (Women Unlimited, 2014 and Oxford University Press Karachi, 2014).
30. he Death of Sheherzad & Other Stories by Intizar Husain, Introduced and translated from the Urdu (Harper Collins, 2014)
31. Pigeons of the Dome: Stories on Communalism in India (Niyogi Books, 2015)
32. The Sea Lies Ahead, a novel by Intizar Husain, translated from the Urdu (Harper Collins, 2015).
33. Looking Back: The 1947 Partition of India,70 Years On, co-edited with Tarun K. Saint and Debjani Sengupta (Oxford Blackswan, 2017).
34. Footprints on the Zero Line: Writings on the Partition, translation of short stories and poems by Gulzar (Harper Collins, 2017).
35. The Traitor, a translation of Krishan Chandar’s novel Ghaddar (Westland/Amazon, 2017).
36. An Uncivil Woman: Writings on Ismat Chughtai, edited volume, (Oxford University Press, 2017).
37. Shahryar: A Life in Poetry, a biography of modernist Urdu poet, Harper Collins, (Harper Collins, 2018).
38. The Great War: Indian Responses to the First World War, edited volume, (Bloomsbury, 2018).
39. Kaifiyat, translation of Kaifi Azmi’s poems (Penguin Random House, 2019)
40. Preeto & Other Stories: The Male Gaze in Urdu, edited volume, (Niyogi Books, 2019).
41. Jallianwala Bagh: Indian Responses in Prose and Poetry, edited volume (Niyogi Books, 2019).
42. But You Don’t Look Like a Muslim, 40 essays on religion, culture, identity and literature (Harper Collins, 2019).
43. Women’s Writings from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh: The Worlds of Bangla and Urdu, co-edited with Debjani Sengupta, (Bloomsbury, 2019.)
44. Gandhinama, edited and introduced Devnagri edition of Akbar Allahabadi’s poem (Vani Prakashan, 2020).
45. The Fall of Dhaka and Creation of Bangladesh: Literary Responses in Urdu and Bangla, co-edited with Debjani Sengupta (Orient Blackswan, 2021)
46. Urdu Stories: The Best Stories of Our Times, Translated and edited 13 stories (Harper Collins, 2023
47. Baal-o-Par: Collected Poetry of Gulzar, translation (Harper Collins, 2024).
48. The Loharu Legacy: A Saga of Generations, a family history, Roli Books, 2024
49. Love in the Time of Hate: In the Mirror of Urdu, Essays on politics, Places, Passions and People, Simon & Schuster (forthcoming in May 2024)

1. ‘The State of Indian Publishing Industry and its Role in Encouraging Translations’, March 2001, seminar organized by the Department of English, Jamia Millia Islamia.
2. ‘Indian Writing in English: Missing the Woods for the Trees’, seminar on ‘Tradition and Modernity: Indian Writing in English’, October 2002, organised by Department of English, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh.
3. ‘Educating Muslim Women in Modern India’, at the 15th National Convention 2005 of the American Federation of Muslims of Indian Origin (AFMI) on the theme ‘Emerging India: Equitable Education for Sustainable Development’, organised by AFMI in Dallas, Texas, USA.
4. ‘Educational Status of Muslim Women in India in the Light of the Sachar Committee Report’, 2 March 2007, organised by Sanchetana at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.
5. ‘Dr Rashid Jahan: A Portrait of Courage’, 7 March 2007, paper presented at seminar organised by National Commission for Women at Jamia Millia Islamia.
6. ‘Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi: When Poetry Meets Piety’, 21-23 March 2007, paper presented during seminar on ‘Aqeedat ke Rang: Expressions of Devotion in Islam’, organised by IGNCA, New Delhi.
7. ‘Invisible City: The Delhi We See But Don’t’, September 2007, a talk on the lesser-known monuments, organised by the Delhi Rotary Club, Ashok Hotel, New Delhi.
8. ‘The Poetry of Revolt: 1857 and Urdu Poetry’, seminar on ‘Remembering 1857: Mutiny in the Margins’, 13-14 December 2007, organized in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh and Jamia Millia Islamia at the Jamia Millia Islamia.
9. ‘Reflections of the War of 1857 in the Letters of Ghalib and his Persian Memoir Dastambu: And the Contradictions Therein’, 6 March 2008, organised by the University of Sargodha, Pakistan.
10. ‘The Linkages between Social Change and Urdu Literature: From the1850s to the 1950s’, 10 March 2008, paper presented at International Conference on ‘Society, Culture and Language’, organised under UN auspices by the GC University, Lahore, Pakistan.
11. ‘Language, Culture and Society’, paper at Indo-Norwegian Literary Meet, February 2008, organised by Sahitya Akademi, Rabindra Bhawan, New Delhi.
12. ‘How to “Plot” the Trajectory of a University’, June 2008, paper read at the Academic Staff College, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi.
13. Attended International Seminar-cum-Workshop on ‘Translating Time: Fictions of the Future’, UGC DRS Special assistance Programme, Dept of English, JMI, New Delhi, 18-20 October, 2008.
14. ‘Partition Poetry in Urdu’, 24 July 2009, organized by Poetry Society of India at the India International Centre, New Delhi.
15. ‘The Folk Element in Urdu Literature’, 7 November 2009, paper presented at the SAARC International Folklore Festival, organised by the SAARC Foundation of Writers, Chandigarh.
16. ‘The Women Builders of Delhi’, 15 December 2009, paper presented at one-day seminar on ‘Indraprastha to New Delhi: A Cultural Journey’, organised by the Shyam Lal College at Department of Social Work, University of Delhi.
17. ‘Imagining India in and as the River of Fire’, 18-19 December 2009, International Seminar on ‘Imagining India: Discourses of the Nation’, Dept of English, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi.
18. ‘The Hajj from India: A Personal Narrative, circa 1929’, 5 January 2010 at the Harry Truman Institute, Jerusalem.
19. ‘Saadat Hasan Manto: Chronicler of Partition Narratives from India’, 6 January 2010 at the Institute of Asian and African Studies, Hebrew University, Jerusalem.
20. ‘Manto and Ismat: In the Context of the Progressive Writers’ Movement’, 27 August 2010, Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, Two-Day Seminar on Ismat & Manto: Life, Times and Legacy, organised by IHC and Siyahi.
21. ‘Nazir Akbarabadi: Voice of the People, Poet of Protest’, 11-12 December 2010, International Seminar on ‘Alternative Modernities: Views from Pre-Colonial India’, organised by Banaras Hindu University and Indian Academy of Social Science Research, BHU.
22. ‘Rashid Jahan: Comrade Doctor and Writer’, 24-27 December 2010, International Seminar organised by the Tehreek-e-Niswan, Karachi, Pakistan.
23. ‘Aag Dekhi, Paani Dekha, aur Dekhe Angarey: Ahmed Ali’s Contribution to Angarey and the Progressive Upsurge’, 10-12 February 2011, International Birth-Centenary Conference on ‘Ahmed Ali, Progressive Writers, and Bilingual Creativity’, organized by the Sahitya Akademi, in association with the IACLALS (Indian Association for Commonwealth Literature and Language Studies) and Lucknow University, at the Lucknow University.
24. Moderated panel discussion during day-long International Seminar ‘1911-2011’ – Faiz Lives On: Centenary of a Legend’, 26 February 2011, organised by the All-India Progressive Writers Association, Indian Council for Cultural Relations and Roots 2 Roots at FICCI Auditorium, New Delhi.
25. ‘Poetry of Witness: Locating Faiz Ahmad Faiz in the Progressive Writers’ Movement’, 11-13 March 2011, Birth Centenary International Seminar organised by Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi.
26. Participated in panel discussion on Partition Literature, 26 March 2011, during International SAARC Festival of Literature organised by FOSWAL, New Delhi.
27. Participated in panel discussion on the release of ‘The Wandering Falcon’ by Jamil Ahmed (Penguin, 2011), 15 May 2011 in Lahore, Pakistan.
28. ‘Sajjad Zaheer’s Roshnai: The Perils of Mixing Memory with History’, 23-25 May 2011, International Seminar organised by the Department of History, North Bengal University in a seminar entitled Memoirs and History: Exploring New Dimension, sponsored by the ICHR, in NBU, West Bengal.
29. ‘Batwara and Azadi: Differing Perceptions of 1947 in the Urdu Literature of India and Pakistan’, 2-4 September 2011, International Conference on Trajectories of Partition in South Asia and the Middle East: Comparative Historical Perspective, organised by ICHR, New Delhi; MAKAIAS (Kolkata), University of Calcutta and National Archives of India at India International Centre, New Delhi.
30. ‘Kashmiri Lal Zakir’s Karmavali: Its relevance in Post-Partition Literature’, 12 September 2011, Haryana Urdu Akademi, Chandigarh.
31. ‘Songs for all Seasons: The Oral Tradition in Urdu Literature’, 10-12 October 2011, International Seminar on Orality: Word, Text and Beyond, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla.
32. ‘Betwixt Tradition and Modernity: A Revisionist Study of the Political, Intellectual and Social Strands in the Works of Attia Hosain’, 12-13 November 2011, National Seminar on Indian Women Writers Writing in English, organised by Sahitya Akademi and Dept. of English, Gujarat University at Gujarat University, Ahmedabad.
33. Inaugural Address to the Raleigh Literary Society of Aligarh Muslim University, 23 November 2011, Dept. of English, AMU.
34. ‘Invisible City: the City You See But Don’t See and the Neglected Monuments of Delhi’, 20 December 2011, Public Lecture organised by INTACH as part of the Delhi: Heritage City series, at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.
35. Inaugural Address to the Literary Society of Shri Ram College of Commerce, University of Delhi, 23 January 2012.
36. Discussant in Panel Discussion on ‘An Evening in Lucknow: A Collection of Short Stories by Krishan Chander’, with Syeda S Hameed and Suresh Kohli, 31 January 2012, India International Centre.
37. Translations of Urdu poet Shahryrar read at seminar entitled ‘Reading Translation’, organised by Harper Collins and Alliance Francaise, 9 February 2012, Alliance Francaise, New Delhi.
38. Inaugural Address to the Dhyana Society on ‘What Religion and Culture Mean to Me’, 16 February 2012, Lady Shri Ram College, University of Delhi.
39. Talk on ‘Delhi: Past & Present’, 29 February, organised by Niyogi Books during World Book Fair, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
40. Discussant in session entitled ‘Is Translation a Third Language’ at National Seminar on Translation, 2 March 2012, organised by the National Book Trust, at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
41. ‘Maddhim Lai ka Jadu: The Magic of a Lambent Flame’, paper presented at seminar on Ale Ahmad Suroor, 10 March 2012, at the Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi.
42. ‘Speaking in the Voice of the Other, Appropriating the Other: A Study of the Life and Work of Dr Rashid Jahan’, National Seminar on Writings from the Margins, 23 March 2012 at Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida.
43. ‘The Literary Contributions of Shahryar and Zahida Zaidi’, at a Commemorative Meeting of the PWA Aligarh Chapter, 19 April 2012, Kennedy Hall, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh.
44. Conducted two workshops on ‘Writings from the Real World’ and ‘Abstract Writing for Academic Papers’, 19 April 2012, UGC Short-term Courses organised by Academic Staff College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh.
45. ‘Through the Closed Doorway: Translating Shahryar’, at seminar on ‘Mazi Qareeb Se Mukalma’, 21 April 2012, organised by Dept. of Art, Culture & Languages, Urdu Cell, Govt. of Delhi, Ghalib Institute, New Delhi.
46. ‘The Influence of the Russian Revolution on Manto’s Early Stories’, at a two-day UGC-sponsored National Seminar on History, Literature and Punjabi Society, organised by the Dept. of History, Guru Nank Dev University, Amritsar, 19-20 September, 2012.
47. ‘Tarraqui Pasandi: Loving Progress, Liking Modernity, Hating Manto’, at a two-day International Seminar entitled ‘Celebrating 100 Years of Manto’, organised by Nehru Memorial Museum and Library and SAHMAT, at NMML, New Delhi, 28-29 September 2012.
48. ‘Dr Rashid Jahan: An Early Feminist Writer’, at a two-day seminar on ‘Writings by Women, Writings of Women’, organised by Maulana Abulkalam Azad National Urdu University (MANUU), Hyderabad, 16-17 October 2012.
49. Addressed the Art and Architecture Society of Jesus and Mary College, Delhi University, 6 February 2013.
50. Participated in a Panel Discussion on ‘Solidarity on Trial’ and offered a Tribute to Shahryar on his first death anniversary at the Delhi Literature Festival, IGNCA, 10 February 2013.
51. Presented paper on ‘Media and Literature’ during the Sahitya Akademi’s Festival of Letters, Rabindra Bhawan, New Delhi, 21 February 2013.
52. Conceptualised a series of monthly talks for Hindustani Awaaz entitled ‘Why It Speaks to Me’, at The Attic, Regal Building, Connaught Place, New Delhi. Ran from February 2013 on the last Thursday of every month till December 2013.
53. Participated in Discussion with Urdu poet Ijlal Majeed during the launch of his book, Khud-garift, at Noor Manzil, Bhopal, with Javed Akhtar, organised by Yatra Books, 22 February 2013.
54. Participated in Panel Discussion on ‘Reading Young India: Emerging Readership’ on 23 March 2013 at the Patna Literary Festival, Tara Mandal, Patna.
55. Curated Jashn-e-Urdu, the first-of-its-kind Urdu Festival for the Govt. of Bihar, January 2014.
56. Conducted workshops on ‘Intersections between Literature and Theatre’ and ‘Why Progressive Literature is Important Today, NSD, Bareilly, 7-8 December 2014.
57. Read paper on ‘Karachi: Beyond Lies the Sea’, at seminar on “The Post-Partition Experience of Sindh and Sindhis” organised by the Dept. Of English, Delhi University, 12 December 2014.
58. Spoke at the launch of ‘Nai Sadi ki Kahaniyan’, edited by K. K. Chadda, Harper Collins, India International Centre, 19 December 2014.
59. Presented paper on ‘Manto and the Progressives’ seminar organised by All India Progressive Writers’ Association, Ghalib Institute, 24 December 2014.
60. Read paper on ‘Stories on Screen’, Media Centre, IGNCA, 10 February 2015.
61. Spoke at the book launch of Goa Galata (Hindi) by Surendra Mohan Pathal, published by Harper Collins, Pragati Maidan, World Book Fair, 21 February 2015.
62. Read paper on ‘The Socio-Cultural and Historical Narrative in the Qawwali’, at ‘Understanding Qawwali: The Anthropological Impact of the Art Form of Qawwali’, organised by the Sufi Kathak Foundation, India International Centre, 7 March 2015.
63. ‘Meet the Author’ featuring three of my recent books taken up for discussion by Prof Salil Misra, Dean, Ambedkar University Delhi; Prof Pushpesh Pant, former Professor, JNU; and Ms Ritu Menon, Publisher, Women Unlimited, organised by the IIC Library, India International centre, 28 March 2015.
64. Spoke at panel discussion on ‘From Walls to Bridges: Indian Literature in Translation’, and moderated a panel discussion on ‘The Untranslateable: The Intangibles of Language’ at the Oxford Bookstore, 11 April 2015.
65. Spoke at Panel Discussion on the Role of Non-Muslims in the Promotion of Urdu’, organised by Jashn-e Adab at India International Centre, 30 April, 2015.
66. Read paper in Plenary session on ‘The Progressive Writers’ Movement: A Brief Look at the Political Underpinnings of Socially-engaged Literature’ in Seminar on “Indian Vernacular”, Dept of English, Delhi University, 9 September 2015.
67. Delivered the Tyeb Mehta Memorial Lecture in Mumbai, entitled The Glory Days of the Progressive Writers’ Movement: Bombay circa 1940s’, 26 July 2016.
68. Read paper on ‘From Text to Context: A Personal Journey’ at Seminar on “Translation as Retelling”, Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi, 26 February 2017.
69. Read paper on ‘The “Banned” Voice of Muslim Women: Familial and Gender Relations in Rashid Jahan’s Angarey’, at seminar on “Crossing Boundaries” organised by the Dept of History, University of Delhi, 27-28 February 2017.
70. Read paper on ‘Rahiman Dhaaga Prem Ka: Revisiting the Poetry of Abdur Rahim Khan-e Khana’ at the International Conference on “Celebrating Rahim”, organised by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, 11 March 2017.
71. Read Paper on ‘Dil ki Kitab: The Gita in Urdu’ at International Seminar on “The Mahabharata and Intra-Asian Cultures”, Dept. of English, University of Delhi, 6-8 April 2017.
72. Presentation on ‘Separate But Equal: Setting up of a Girls’ School at Aligarh (Readings from the Mushahidaat wa Tassuraat by Shaikh Muhammad Abdullah) at a Workshop on “Revisiting the Aligarh School” organised by the Freie Universitat, Berlin, 4-5 May, 2017.
73. Paper on ‘In Praise of the Silent: Didactic Writings for Women in Early Urdu Literary Journals’ in International Seminar on “Purifying the Dialect of the Tribe: Cross-Cultural Concerns in Colonial and Post-colonial India”, at the Indian Institute for Advanced Study, Shimla, 17-19 May 2017.
74. Read paper on ‘Sir Syed and the Struggle for Modern Female Education’ on the occasion of the Sir Syed Bicentenary celebrations, at Nehru Centre, London, UK, 20 October 2017.
75. Regularly invited to speak at Litfests in Jaipur, Kolkata, Kasauli, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Lucknow, Delhi, Mumbai, London, Melbourne, etc.

1. Visiting Fellow at Academy of Third World Studies, Jamia Millia University, working on ‘The Politics of Language in Pakistan’ under the Pakistan Studies Programme (2004-05).
2. Partial Assistance Grant from Indian Council for Social Science Research (ICSSR) under Salary Protection Scheme to complete Ph D. (Feb-July 2010).
3. Project Grant from Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies (MAKAIS) to study ‘The Progressive Writers Movement and Its Impact on Popular Culture and the Indian National Movement’, Kolkata (2010-2012).
4. Foreign Travel Grant from the Indian Council for Historical Research (ICHR) for travel and research in the British Library (May-June 2010).
5. Project Grant from Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) for a book-length study on Dr Rashid Jahan (2011-2012).

1. International Visitor Leadership Programme of the United States Department of State, part of a multi-regional group studying ‘Religion and the Community’, 1-22 February 2007.
2. Civil Society Dialogue between India and Saudi Arabia, as part of a delegation to meet heads of various civil society groups in Jeddah, organised by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, 27-30 April 2008.
3. International Meet on Terrorism and the Palestine State, in Tehran, organised by the Iran Culture House, March 2009.
4. Leaders of Influence Programme run by the Asia Foundation and USAID, Dhaka, 11-14 January 2010.
5. Part of six-member delegation of Indian writers sent to the International Book Fair by the Sahitya Akademi to Abu Dhabi where India was Guest of Honour (24-27 April, 2019).

1. Editor of the Taj magazine, a bi-annual book-length journal of the Taj group of hotels.
2. Write a fortnightly column for The Quint since August 2019 entitled ‘Hindustani Awaaz’.
3. Write on issues of literature, culture and the community, for various mainstream newspapers such as The Indian Express, The Hindu, and Hindustan Times as well as online journals such as Scroll, Firstpost, The Wire, etc.
4. Chairperson, Sarvodaya International Trust (Delhi Chapter), devoted to promoting Gandhian ideals of Truth and Non-violence.
5. Trustee, Sewa Mandir, Udaipur, Rajasthan.
6. Trustee, Ghalib Institute, Mata Sundari Lane, New Delhi
7. Member, Board of the Shankar Shaad Mushaira of the Shriram group.
8. Member, Board of PEN (Delhi Chapter)
9. Founder-Trustee of Hindustani Awaaz, an organisation devoted to the popularisation of Hindustani literature and culture
10. Conceptualised a series of monthly talks for Hindustani Awaaz, entitled New Urdu Writings, at the Oxford Bookstore, Connaught Place, New Delhi. Ran from September 2014 till March 2017. Same series now relocated to India Habitat Centre with regular monthly talks and discussions and an annual Urdu festival called Afreen Afreen, now in its third consecutive year.

1. Shortlisted for the Vodafone Crossword Award for Neither Night Nor Day, edited volume of short stories by Pakistani Women writers
2. Shortlisted for the Raymond Crossword Award 2015 for The Death of Sheherzad, a collection of short stories by Intizar Husain.
3. Kaifi Azmi Award for ‘Contributions to Urdu’ 2016.
4. Germany Embassy-Karachi Litfest Pakistan Peace Prize for translation of Intizar Husain’s Aage Samandar Hai as The Sea Lies Ahead, 2016.
5. The First Jawad Memorial Prize for Urdu-English Translation for translating the Urdu story Dhuan (‘Smoke’) by Gulzar, 2017.
6. Jury Recommendation of the Muse India Awards for The Sea Lies Ahead, 2017.
7. The Ninth Bi Amma Award from the Maulana Mohamed Ali Jauhar Academy, New Delhi, 2018.
8. Distinguished Translator Award from Vani Prakashan at the Jaipur Literary Festival, January 2020.
9. Pen n Paper Award for Baal-o-Par, translation of Gulzar’s collected poetry published by Harper Collins in the Best in Poetry category, October 2024.

1. In the past, edited, researched and wrote management texts for Think Inc., a Management Consultancy and Publishing Company
2. Edited textbooks for school children and wrote/assembled reading material for young readers.
3. Freelance copy-editing for Frank Bros., Oxford University Press, Sage Publications, Response Books, Tata McGraw-Hill, Clarion Books, Vision Books, etc. on subjects ranging from management, industry, social sciences and law.
4. Conducted workshops with school children in collaboration with Scholastics Publishers.
5. Edited a quarterly website on South Asian Women Writers for the British Council Division (www.womenswriting.com) 2004-2005.
6. Wrote a monthly column called “Invisible City” on conservation and heritage issues for First City magazine from August 2003-February 2008.
7. Wrote a weekly column (every Tuesday) entitled “Invisible Delhi” for Hindustan Times dealing with issues of conservation, heritage and archaeology from June 2008- January 2009.
8. Launched an organisation called Hindustani Awaaz, devoted to popularising Hindi and Urdu in mainstream forum. Have been organising programmes since July 2003 till date on popular literature.